stoner



3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. B. STONER.

LETTER B0X.

Patented Apr. 12,

sitix Sheet 2.

(No Model.) v3 Sheets J. B. STONER. LETTER BOX. No. 472,560. Patented Apr. 12

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J.B.ST0NER.

(No Model.)

LETTER BOX.

Patented Apr. 12

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. ,fomit UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN B. STONER, OF NEW YORK, N. vY., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES B. I-IILLHOUSE,

OE SAME PLACE.

LETTER-BOX.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,560, dated April 12, 1892.

' Application filed June 25, 1891. Serial No. 397,450. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

. Be it known that I, JOHN B. STONER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New volves the features of construction and the combination orV arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a letter-box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isan end elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a Alongitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view showing a modified construction, and Eig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring` to the drawings, wherein- The numeral l indicates a'letter-box having a roof portion 2 and a tilting bottom wall 3, having an end wall 4., and mounted on a pivot 5 in such amanner that the bottom can be tilted for the purpose of discharging the mail-matter.

In practice a spring-lock is employed in connection with the pivoted or tilting bottom 3, and the pivot-pin 5 of the latter is so arranged that when the bottom is released by unlocking the springlock the bottom wall automatically tilts to the position indicated by dotted lines for the purpose of enabling the collector to collect the deposited mail with great facility. Ido not deem'it essential to illustrate the spring-lock, because it constitutes no part of my present invention and may be of any well-known type. Y

The vertical end wall 6 of the letter-box is provided in juxtaposition to the top portion or roof with a vertically-arranged letter-receiving slot 7 of suitable height and width to receive the letters or packages usually deposited in a letter-box.

The letter-receiving slot is covered and uncovered by means of a cover-plate 8, pivoted at its upper extremity through the medium of a horizontal pivot-pin or pintle 9, which may orA may not extend continuously alongthe inside of the box in juxtaposition to the roof. This cover-plate is provided at its lower extremity with a suitable knob, handle, or fingerpiece l0 for the purpose of oscillating or swinging it in the are of a circle inta plane parallel with the slotted vertical end wall of the box, so that by swinging the cover-plate in one direction the letter-receiving slot will be exposed or uncovered for the purpose of introducing the mail-matter which is to be deposited for collection. In the example here illustrated the pivot-pin or pintle 8 is supported at one end by an end wall of the box and at the opposite end by a lug 12, suspended from the roof 2 in proximity to the slotted end wall G.

A letter-supporting shelf 13 extends from one end wall of the box to the other and is preferably arranged in an inclined plane, as represented in Fig. l. This letter-supporting shelf is placed approximately ilush with the lowermost edge of the letter-receiving slot 7 in such manner that a letter or package introduced'through the slot will rest upon the shelf.

A letter-chute l/l is suspended from the horizontal pivot-pin or pintle 9 and is adapted to oscillate or swing in the arc of a circle, corresponding to the oscillating or swinging movements of the cover-plate S. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the letter-chute 14 is suspended from the pivot-pin or pintle 9 through the medium of an arm 15 at one end of the chute andan arm 16 at the opposite,

IOO

cillated or swung by manipulating its fingerv piece or handle 10 the letter-chute is correspondingly oscillated or swung in the arc Aof a circle above the letter-supporting shelf 13. In practice I prefer to construct the letterchute of a pair of plates 1S, separated a distance from each other, coextensive with the width of the letter-receiving slot 7, so that when the chute is swung by operating the-external cover-plate to place such chute in coincidence with the letter-receiving slot. a letter or package can be inserted through the slot into the chtite and be supported by the letter-supporting shelf 13. In practice I also prefer to cast the plates 18, the crank-arms 17, the arm 16, and the cover-plate 8 as a single casting; but I do not wish to be understood as contining myself to this particular method of constructing these parts. A single casting is, however, advisable, because it avoids the presence of rivets or similar.de vices, which could be easily removed by a burglar.

To deposit mail-matter, the finger-piece or handle 10 is manipulated for swinging the cover-plate 8 into a position which will eX- pose the letter-receiving slot 7,and obviously this movement of the cover-plate will correspondingly move the letter-chute 14, whereby the latter is placed in coincidence with the letter-receiving slot. rlhe letter or other mailmatter is then inserted through the letter-receiving slot into the chute, so that the letter rests upon the letter-supportin g shelf 13. The cover-plate is now released and the letter-chute instantly gravitates to a perpendicular position, thereby swinging the coverplate S to its normal position for covering or concealing the letter-receivingslot, and at the same time the letter-chute slides the letter or other mail-matter from the shelf and deposits it in the letter-box.

If the letter -supporting shelf were constructed with a plain or smooth surface throughout its extent, it would offer some resistance to thc sliding movement of the mailmatter, and therefore to avoid this objection and reduce frictional contact between the mail-matter and the supporting-shelf I provide the latter with a ratchet-faced surface 19, sothat the edge of a letterlwill rest upon the points 20 of the ratchet-like teeth, and therebyreduce the superficial contact between the letter and the shelf to a considerable eX- tent. The ratchet-faced surface 2O of the shelf 13 is so arranged relatively to the letterreceiving slot that when a letter orpackage is inserted it will freely ride over the ratchetlike teeth, and consequently its insertion into the chute will not be in any way obstructed by the ratchet-like teeth.

The letter-supporting shelf and slot are so arranged rela-tively to the chute that the latter must be swung out. of the center of gravity to place it in coincidence with the slot, and therefore the chtite will gravitate to its normal position the instant the cover-plate is released; but to positively restore the chute toits normal perpendicular position I may employ a retractile spring 21, as in Fig. 1. This spring, however, is notindispensable, for obviously the same result would be attained by properly weighting the ch utc.

In the modified construction exhibited by Figs. 4 and 5 the chute 22 is stationary and the letter-supporting shelf 23 is adapted to oscillate or swing in the are of a circle to and from a position directly under the open lower end of the chute. The letter-supportin g shelf 23 is provided with a ratchet-faced surface 20, the same as described with reference to the letter-supporting shelf 13, and such shelf 23 is suspended from the pivot-pin or pintlc 9 through the medium of links or arms 24:, to the lower extremities of which the shelf is rigidly attached. The link or arm 24 at one end of the letter-box is connected with the external cover-plate S, so that by oscillating or swinging the cover-plate the letter-supportin g shelf will be correspondingly osciliated or swung in the are of a circle. I n the modified construction the cover-plate is preferably of such weight that when released it will instantly swing by gravity to its normal perpendicular position, and thereby automatically swing the letter-supportin g shelf 23 away from the open lower end of the chute for the purpose of depositing the letter or other mail-matter into the letter-box.

In each of the constructions described and shown a letter-box is provided having a. slotted end wall and a pendulous cover-platepivoted at its upper end and swinging in the arc of a circle in a plane parallel with the slotted end of the box, combined with an interior letter-chute and a letter-supportin g shelf, one of which is moved bythe cover-plate for the purpose of preventing burglars abstractin g mailmatter from the box through the letter-slot.

My improved construction provides a letter-box which is practicably burglar-proof as regards the abstraction of letters or packages through the letter-receiving slot, and the parts are so constructed and organized as to effectually exclude the entrance of water, snow, dust, or dirt, so that the mail-matter is protected from damage, while permitting its convenient deposit and collection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A letter-box having a vertical end wall provided with a letter-receiving slot and a pendulous cover-plate pivoted at its upper extremity and swinging in the arc of a circle parallel with the slotted end of the box, in combination with an interior letter-chute and a letter-supporting shelf, one of which parts is moved by the cover-plate for depositing mail-matter, substantially as described.

2. A letter-box having one vertical wall provided with a letter-receiving slot and a pendulous cover-plate pivoted at its upper cxtremity and swinging in the arc of a circle parallel with the slotted end of the box, in combination with an interior letter-chute and IOO IIC

a letter-supportin g shelf, one of which parts is oscillated in the arc of a circle by a connection with the cover-plate for depositing ma ilmatter, substantially as described.

3. A letter-box having one vertical end Wall provided with aletter-receiving slot and a pendulous cover-plate pivoted at its upper extremity and swinging in the arc of a circle parallel with the slotted end of the boX, in combination with an interior letter-chute and a supporting-shelf provided with a ratchet-faced surface for reducing 'the superficial contact with the deposited mail-matter, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a letter-box having one of its walls provided with a letter-receiving slot, of an interior letter-supporting shelf, an oscillatory letter-chute suspended from its upper extremity within the box, and a cover-plate swinging in the arc of a circle parallel with the slotted wall of the box and connected with the chute, substantially7 as described.

5. The combination, with a letter-box having one of its end walls provided with a vertically-arranged letter-receiving slot, of an interior letter-supporting shelf, aletter-chute having at one end a crank-arm, and a coverplateconnectedatitsupper endwiththecrankarm and swinging in the are of a circle in unison with the swinging movements of the letter-chute, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a letter-box having a letter-receiving slot, a cover-platevfor the slot, and a letter-chute, of an interior letter-supporting shelf provided with a ratchetfaced surface, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. B. sroNER. [ne] Witnesses:

JAMES A. RUTHERFORD, J. HARRY DALY. 

